Tanis777

Federation support to the Madison crisis was through a Light Infantry Division supported by a Heavy Armor brigade. The bulk of the assets would be through an ad-hoc SIGINT facility to handle aerial RC-240 and tactical UAV data to ground forces. General Blake McAllister commanding the Federation AOC in Madison would assist the MNU assets through various intelligence gathering, mainly in the electronic realm. However, six B-2 bombers with a mix of smart munitions were on standby if needed. __________________________________________________________ A general warning to all Madison forces would be issued at 1600 to warn of an impending chemical weapon launch by the Federation military. An array of air-launched cruise missiles by Federation B-52Gs would launch an array of nitrous oxide upon the inhabitants of Madison at 1730.

Welks was simply not satisfied with the answer, in the meantime, Agent Wayne came beside the chancellor. "As far as we can tell, this is an insurgency that has support with your movement. As I see it, your government is illegitimate and the uprising in Madison is one of government supported insurgency on the coalition of North American powers. For this, I'm afraid I must deem you under arrest for further questioning and intelligence gathering. Agents, arrest them and take them to several of the MPAPs to be convoyed to the airport. I would highly suggest not resisting arrest," ordered Welks. Welks motioned Agent Wayne and the other FDSA agents nearby, guns raised at a distance, ready to fire at a moments notice, to arrest the entire RAS delegation. No Miranda rights would be issued as the delegation were arrested, those FDSA agents arresting them would be unarmed as they handed their sidearms to nearby agents. If any resisted arrest in anyway, they would be shot. Downstairs, Vice Chancellor Everett stopped the group for a minute to talk to Agent Wayne, "Shoot them in the kneecaps, son." Agent Wayne protested; however, Everett shoved Wayne aside and pulled out his pistol and went down the line and shot the RAS delegates in the kneecap, eventually some the other agents complied. "That's for supporting terrorism. Carry on agents." The rest of the delegates may have been shocked, but the deed was done. The delegation was led to a secure facility downstairs and loaded into a Federation Marine MRAP and Stryker convoy to the international airport. The Federation Marine brigade at the airport would seize the RAS jetliner and personnel there as well with extreme force, if necessary.

The Hudson Bay Federation welcomes the news of a new nation in South America. Live long and prosper!

"This is Winnipeg ATC, Flight ####, cleared to land on runway 24. Wind speed coming from the west-southwest at 15 knots, Caution: wake turbulence. Watch for traffic." Clear skies above the Canadian Shield revealed the province of Manitoba with rolling farmland prairies and dotting of lakes stretching as far north as the eye could see from the plane. As they approached Winnipeg, it was now nearly 15 years from the nuclear attack, the city undergone a rapid transformation from a humble metropolitan with mid-20th century architecture to a more modern 21st century architectural take, signaling a tale of remarkable recovery. Little dots moving on concrete ribbons spanning to the east and west and to the north, signaled the Trans-Federation Highway system, connecting the vast swath of land that the Federation governed. Their arrival would see the regular rush hour traffic moving around downtown, with stop-and-go traffic plaguing the downtown arterial route, but such was the pursue of successful commerce. The plane would touch down at the relatively new Winnipeg International Airport, the main hub port for several Federation-based airline companies servicing major American and global destinations. The mixture of homemade Falcon Aerospace, old McDonnell Douglas, Chongqing Boeing and Airbus commercial aircraft with their painted airline logo filled the taxiways and terminal slots at the airport. Thousands of flights would be serviced by the tireless staff of the Winnipeg ATC, making Winnipeg International, one of the highest volume airports in North America. The diplomatic terminal was an extension of the International Terminal, where the South African diplomatic party would be met by a small Federation welcome party by Vice Chancellor Everett and Foreign Minister Brady. The Marine Band played the South African national anthem, followed by the Federation anthem. "Welcome to Hudson Bay ladies and gentlemen, hope your flight was alright from Faraway?" greeted Everett, extending his hand for a shake.

Welks wasn't quite stupid to overlook the concessions Faraway would have to make, but the term 'security team' in Welk's mind was more or less really a third-party military force by joint North American nations not quite involved. A short note would reach the Faraway delegation from one of the Federation aide, fleshing out the details more. But as things looked, nothing looked good. Federation Diplomatic Security Agent, Thomas Wayne, stepped into the room, whispered to Welks, "Sir, I'm afraid due to the bombing at one of our security checkpoints, it's for everyone's safety to just remain in this room. Until we deem the situation clear, no one is to leave this room without escort by my team. The entire second floor we're now is getting increased security to reduce multiple entries." Welks frowned before speaking again, "Folks, I've been informed that because of the incident outside, I've been advised to keep everyone in this room until the security issue is cleared. I agree with that assessment and I hope you understand." With that a few FDSA agents stood at the door with G17 pistols, preventing anyone to leave without a guarded escort. No one would be allowed outside and all diplomatic cars would be checked again with portable x-ray and dog teams.

Operation Vigilant Watch (Continuation) Newest movements so far for existing units in the southern Midwest region that is now part of the Confederation of MidAmerica. All units in this territory are to move into northern Oklahoma to a new base being constructed by a brigade of Federation Engineering Corps. The new base will be entirely funded by the Federation to include one 10,000 foot concrete runway with 70 hardened fighter aircraft shelters. It will support the 94th Fighter Wing and 10th Refueling Wing. The base will be supplied by the 564th Air Mobility Wing via the 780th Air Mobility Squadron. The 92nd Light Armor and 68th Airborne Divisions will be deployed here beginning a year-long deployment cycle. Cycling in, the 617th Air and Missile Defense Battalion would be activated to active duty status to this base. The 66th Airborne Division coupled with one heavy armored brigade are moving north towards St. Louis to reinforce the 45th Armored Division AOR. Token forces will remain to assist with CMA forces until the security situation is stabilized. The northern Midwest will see increased Federation presence through the reinforced arrival of the 43rd (Denver), 47th Armored Divisions (Des Moines), and 94th Light Armor (Omaha), each totaling 22,000. This will reinforce the current force composition by the 10th and 12th Light Infantry Divisions. The main airport in St. Louis will now host the 606th Aerial Intelligence Squadron and a trio of RSC-240s. Operation Goalkeeper The newest phase of Federation operations in the Upper Great Lakes region has resulted in the movement of two light armored divisions, each about 18,000 along with a heavy armored division of 22,000 into Minnesota and Wisconsin. One light armored division is to observe and test new non-lethal chemical weapons upon the increased disturbance in Madison. Federation Missile Command has been notified for potential use of short range missiles to disperse some of the said chemicals.

OOC: Care to share to if you did any physical argumentation on Jade? A persona it not going to save you here if people exercise the option to discover you, myself included. IC: Chancellor Welks looked at Ellen, indifferent to the new face he was confronting. Politically, RAS was a no go as long as the Madison protests continued, along with the outbreak of armed attacks, that much was for sure in Welk's mind. Obvious concerns of violence concluded that special military coordination would have to require some sort of buffer zone on the eastern borders and a demilitarization of the Mississippi River. Reports from lower Mississippi region by American Commonwealth forces deemed Sullivan's last statement as wrong. "Hello, Ms. Richards. Beside the current Madison affairs, active denial by your group to not say your involvement in it is flat grounds of nonrecognition of your new nation. Obviously the tension between Faraway and your delegation does not spell well for me to even continue a decent round of negotiations, unless active observation by my nation or others to police the Upper Mississippi region indefinitely, which sadly would is what I'm inclined to support at this moment. That is simply the first condition so far I see, that the demilitarization by both Faraway and future RAS forces with a 100 mile non-militarized zone in both directions enforced by a joint third-party security team."

As the person working in communications, landlines can easily be taken down, simply through software programming. The tone you hear on one's phone is a software verification done physically on a computer to a nearby switch. Although, depending on the setup of the network, external access can be authorized to edit the switch via larger trunk lines, usually an administrative level thing. EDIT: I could expand it more, but if you have no personal experience with what a telephone switch looks like and the software associated with it, it's kind of difficult to explain. And yes, cell phones piggyback on the main landline networks, if that question was bound to appear. I will have to say this though, if you don't control your own communications infrastructure, your options to bypass jamming/disabling is relatively limited.

"If there is an armed insurgency east of the Mississippi, Federation forces will assist in force there, in full force. However, the terms of RAS recognition if there is active armed soliders fighting east of the Mississippi, it must be called off immediately. The other term is the actual arming of your forces, which I will spell out in a minute." "Aide, please inform the Chiefs to move an additional 75,000 troops from Southern Manitoba bases into the Western Great Lakes region to assist in whatever situation is unfolding there, at this very moment," spoke Welks.

Great Northern Times Edition 12 Chancellor Welks Condemns North Korean Invasion; Disrupted Global Chain of Turnip Production WINNIPEG, MANITOBA - The recent attacks by North Korea on Mascurian Siberia received attention of the Welks administration this morning in the weekly press conference to the nation, saying, "Some folks ask me 'Why? Why do you care about what happens outside of the Federation? Because there's other people out there, people. Yes, in this very room some year ago, my secretary was an immigrant from weird place called Grossdeu, whatever, Germany. Anyways, today's concern regards Mascurian exports of various turnip products, and the Koreans in their infinite wisdom decided to wreck global shipments of that good #$*(. You know what, turnip vodka are fabulous and the Internets have said the war has disrupted supply, so North Korea, stop being such a hater."

Welks slightly smiled, continuing on, "Well the 'alternative' is that you're landlocked for the time being. My government will ensure that your new nation has proper access to external markets for your goods via the Mississippi River barge traffic or by rail on the behalf of the nearby governments. This would be the ideal diplomatic situation rather than the mass demonstrations being presented so far." Minister Rolan looked slight ragged as the conference dragged on, he rose from his chair and started singing, "Whyyy yes, give diplomacy tryyy!!! We're North America $&#(!%, $&^* yeah! Let's ride on forward on that giant bald eagle and stomping out them terrorist scum where they lie! Embrace that capitalism and secret backroom parlor gaaamm... " With that Minister Rolan fell to the ground convulsing wildly. Chancellor Welks looked back to he incapacitated foreign minister and mused, "Well... now, medics!"

The sounds of the explosion by the suicide bomber rang through the entire neighborhood. While security around the National Palace where the conference was being held was insanely tough to crack, the outlying security checkpoint where the only vulnerabilities lied. While the Chilean and Mexican delegates were caught in the blast, the nearby security checkpoint manned by a platoon of Federation marines, the steel ball bearings ripping through 25 of the marines killing them outright, the rest severely wounded. Mexican citizens were also caught in the cross blast, at least several dozen that were waiting in line to get through the checkpoint. Sounds of car alarms and smoke emitted from the site as a scene of chaos engulfed area as reinforcements of a couple platoons of Federation Marines in MRAPs raced to the scene. From the National Palace, FSA agents moved on foot in their suits to the scene to assistance. The Marine headquarters at the international airport turned into a flurry of activity as they moved about in purpose as this failure of security rocked the leadership there. At least the air traffic was left uninhibited for now; however, a sortie of F-15SE fighters taxied off to emergency CAP above the capital. The first responders were plain-clothed FSA agents followed by the heavily armed convoy of MRAP vehicles with several armored ambulances. The smell of the dead and the sounds of the dying greeting them in the grimiest fashion possible. Meanwhile in the conference, Welks saw his page go off shortly, a late reminder to the grim situation he and the rest of people inside obviously just heard... he was just about to reaffirm the fact of no compromise. Welks' vision of North America was definitely something that couldn't wasn't backing down on. He looked at Carnegie, then to the plume of smoke outside. "I'm sorry Mister Sullivan and Mister Carnegie, my support for RAS in Illinois is still a firm no at this time, it would have go between myself and the Faraway government in depth at some other time." Clearly, the situation unfolding, distracting.

"Tsk, tsk, Mister Sullivan. Not everything to run an economy requires access to a seaport. We're all willing partners to help the Upper Midwest to greatness with vast deposits in natural gas and the east Rockies have rich amounts of ores. You're simply short-sighted, all I see is merely opportunity to work with the nations around you to build you up to your potential Unfortunately, you clearly do not see it this way. As I said before, and I definitely speak on the behalf of the established American nations that what is drawn on this map is what it is. There is nothing more to 'get on with this', this is it, with our data. If you feel unpersuaded by my assurances to build you a great inland empire that would be the envy of the world!" stated Welks, enthusiastically. "Think about it, unrivaled river access down the Mississippi, rail lines to Churchill, Chicago, Houston and/or Mobile, on our dime! I would consider it a tempting offer." concluded Welks.

"Well, unfortunately, whatever information sources you have, clearly, you need better sources on the Great Lakes region," replied Welks. He lit a cigar and puffed a giant smoke ball engulfing him briefly, continuing on," The Upper Midwest is resource rich, such a short-sighted perspective on the region in which you may acquire. While true, you have no true access to seaports, I'm sure to stimulus your new economy by ensuring upgrades to locks and dams on the Mississippi River as well as providing nearly duty-free rail routes to select Great Lakes port facilities under a Faraway lease control as well as maybe a deal with the Athenians or CSA is in order for leased port facilities to the South. Capitalism Mister Suillivan, capitalism my good sir." "Your outlook is too limited, while land-locked, the end is not near for the flow of your economy to actually have proper land that you need control, diplomacy works!" boomed Welks. In the background, Minister Rolan was hyperventilating with over laughing a bit hard. An FSIA agent came by to watch over him a bit to see if he was alright.

Cool story, thanks for the info. I just thought the Ohio River boundary made sense and all, but I wasn't going to say it was going to be "it will be this" since the IC discussion was ongoing.

Preliminary, ongoing discussions, my bad. lol

"Our resolve to see stability to the North American continent cannot be underestimated, we are fully committed to seeing peace to the region, no doubt through our actions already, not merely words or grand speeches," stated Welks. "Our passion to the North American people spans back to the foundation of the Federation, even more so after the Northern Imperium War. Of all the people involved in these talks today, we know the costs and the dangers. The protests in Madison, as I've already said, are not legitimate calls for independence, but of open rebellion. I have no interest in appeasing that type of people. While I offer concessions based on peace, this isn't of peace and does not warrant my pity." Looking at the map on the table again, "As I said before and I'll say it again, the lands of east of the Mississippi River and Minnesota are not on the table for further discussion; however, we can talk about the land west of it and north of Oklahoma."

Welks kept his cool as looked at the unfolding violence in Madison, "Even if there was partition for a RAS Constitution in any Great Lakes region lands, the situation is changing where even pieces of paper is not enough to ensure that you're the best option for any of the land around the Great Lakes." Douglas Welks put his hands on the table and looked at the RAS delegation and said, "The laws of the Faraway realm is not ours to judge, if their law allows the punishment of hard labor, that is their call. While the Hudson Bay Federation maybe more progressive in our domestic laws, judging another countries' affairs in dealing with their domestic affairs is out of our hands and really out of anyone else here today. However, we do suggest Faraway to be better stewards in not being so 'gun-ho' in their efforts, this call to appeal to our 'progressivism' is really not something we can actively change, but only suggest. Thus, Welks made the accusations of people being sent to the mines an internal legal affair rather than international injustice of basic human rights, while not right in principle, it was personal national legal issue outside of the scope of the nations in attendance. Such further calls of injustice would fall on deaf ears to the Federation delegation.

Should have read the memo (PM).

"Do not try insult my intelligence Mister Sullivan. Our dealings with the Faraway government has been amriable so far," replied Welks. He turned on the television to one side of the room of some news coverage in Madison. "The protest still did not receive, nor clear the proper channels for authorization sir. I may said this in a different tune if there was some sort of working with the Faraway government; however, we have not seen it. My administration would have done the same thing if such a large group assembled threatened the overall security of the city and immobilizing commerce." "Our governments have agreed to the partitioning plans I have made for North America based on the data our officials have gathered, this is really non-negotiable."

"I have seen the reports," Welks stated sternly. "Just because I'm in Mexico City that I'm not following what is going on outside. I've seen the news, the gathering broke emergency laws enacted after the Faraway forces moved in. I have also heard, the Faraway Army has not fired shots thus far. Our assessment by our non-partisan officials in the region have seen large support for Faraway outside of major urban centers. We digress your 'proof' that these protests are legitimate calls of independence due their outright lack of cooperation with Faraway officials." Nearby, Minister Rolan moved a finger over his mouth rapidly in a silly fashion as the argument began.

Chancellor Welks pondered his response for a minute before replying, "See that's the problem, Mister Sullivan. The established nations of North America have not stated official recognized of any of the new nations until this conference was formalized, while the independence of Mexico was an obvious choice due to our lack of power projection this far south, more so even our refusal of long term occupation of territory south of the Rio Grande. You can say all you want about having a government, but we're the final obstacle in making sure the stability of North America is ensured for the time being." "My administration is quite disturbed by the reports we're receiving from our allied partners to the East as well as information from American Commonwealth intelligence that has been transferring over to us. I do hope that the Commonwealth's intelligence is very wrong, but we are prepared if the credibility of that intelligence is true. Besides, we have personally ensured that non-partisan Federation officials have gone throughout the Midwest and have discussed in length with our partners to the East the best 'on-the-ground' feeling on the ground with sediment of the people. We have found these claims of independence into RAS unfounded and continued with my plan for the partition of North America." Rolan laid out another duplicate map of what was in the adjoining room. In the meantime, a FSIA agent handed Welks a fresh report from the Great Lakes. Welks continued, peering at the report with his glasses, "The unrest in the Great Lakes region is most disturbing to us, and we do not feel it represents the entire region with their feelings towards Faraway. I'm going to dismiss your vaunted claims of support of anything east of Mississippi." Welks swept his hands to various areas of the map outlining the partition of North America to everyone to see, even the RAS officials. "This map was made my administration with some help by Cascadia, Faraway, and the American Commonwealth. We see fit that the low level of violence in the MidAmerica and CSA areas warrant expanded areas of responsibility of their initial claims and have gotten them with our exclusive support. However, the Great Lakes region, as myself and most the Federation government sees is that Faraway is best suited to ensure the continued stability in that region and the unrest so far unfolding is by a small group of vocal dissonant folks trying to stir up trouble for the rest of the people. The Federation as well our joint established partner nations here today will ensure to see that is a reality." Welks condescending tone pushed on with what left of the map, which was labeled the 'Upper Midwest HBF Security Zone', concluding, "Since you say you represent this area as well, our officials have found a decent amount of support for RAS north of the Oklahoma border; however, as I stated before," Welks lifting up the piece of paper of the report, finishing, "East of the Mississippi, your sources mislead you."